The Lindsay Park team’s Hong Kong venture ended in disappointment, but there were no major concerns over Mr Brightside’s welfare after the Group 1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin.

Starting at $5.40, Mr Brightside failed to figure in the finish, trailing home last in the 1600-metre feature. Ben Hayes remarked that he might have raised a decent beer fund if given a dollar for every inquiry about Mr Brightside’s chances pre-race.

“The stable is clearly disappointed,” Ben said.

JD Hayes noted that Mr Brightside became unsettled during the run.

“He just looked to get a bit fierce behind them,” JD said.

“Then when he wasn’t going to be running into contention, Craig (Williams) looked after him a bit.

“That did extenuate the margin but the horse will be fine.”

Post-race, Ben reported encouraging signs.

“He seemed fine after the race,” he said. “He’ll probably be vetted and we will see how he is in the morning but it doesn’t look to be anything significant or concerning.”

“It was well worth the experience though.”

Elsewhere, Hugh Bowman and John Size caused a boilover with Red Lion claiming the Mile at $90, surviving a protest from James McDonald and Voyage Bubble, who was the $1.40 favourite.